Image: Channel 4 Press
By Jon Donnis
Tuesday's Child Scotland and Interstellar have secured funding to co-produce a new comedy entertainment pilot, James Acaster: People Person (working title), for Channel 4. This 60-minute non-broadcast pilot, developed collaboratively by the Glasgow-based production teams, is set to be produced, filmed, and edited in Glasgow over the summer.
The innovative pilot is part of an entertainment production initiative co-funded by Channel 4 and Screen Scotland. The show, hosted by the acclaimed comedian James Acaster, will celebrate individuals from various backgrounds by making them the focal point of a unique comedy quiz. The format involves a panel of comedians predicting which person from a lineup is the answer to each question, with heavy audience participation encouraged. The interactive nature of the show allows the audience to compete for a share of a prize fund, promising a lively and engaging gameshow experience.
James Acaster expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This is more than just a pilot. It's the co-pilot, flight attendants, passengers, and the bloke with the paddles on the runway. This is about people. And I'm a people person. Let's do this."
Tuesday's Child, a multi-award-winning entertainment and popular factual format specialist, has established a significant presence in Glasgow since 2019. Known for their strong track record in Scotland, the company has produced several successful shows, including the BBC primetime series The Hit List and the BAFTA Scotland nominated travelogue Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig for Channel 4.
Interstellar, founded by Managing Director David Williams and Creative Director Jamie Ormerod, is renowned for producing popular shows such as Richard Ayoade's Question Team for Dave and Singletown for ITV2. In 2023, Tuesday's Child acquired a majority stake in Interstellar, further solidifying their collaboration.
David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, "Scotland-based production companies have enjoyed considerable success in entertainment, quiz, and comedy in the last few years, and it's great to work with Channel 4 to further develop this capacity. TV production across the UK is undergoing significant change, and the impact on freelance workers has been profound. This initiative is just one of the ways we are focused on increasing the levels of production from Scotland, increasing opportunities for Scotland-based talent and crews."
Edwina Madden-Egan, Development Executive for Tuesday's Child Scotland, emphasized the growth and potential of the Scottish base: "Tuesday's Child in Scotland is growing year on year, and to win this commission alongside Interstellar allows us to continue to work with brilliant local talent and cement our Glasgow base as a leading specialist hub for quality entertainment and factual output."
Jamie Ormerod, Creative Director of Interstellar, shared his excitement about the project: "Working with James to create this format for Channel 4 is hugely exciting. Expect inventive games and stunts that defy expectations of a traditional panel game and that celebrate the undeniable fact we're a nation of weirdos. Each, and every one of us."
Channel 4's commissioning editor, Cimran Shah, praised the talent and creativity involved in the project: "We were super impressed by the talent and creativity of entrants during this tender process in collaboration with Screen Scotland. James Acaster's People Person (WT) was one of the ideas that stood out as a simple, scalable, and clever concept with stellar talent attached and a clear opportunity to develop a new generation of channel-defining comedians. We cannot wait to see the final product later this year."
The pilot was commissioned by Channel 4's Head of Reality and Entertainment, Steven Handley, and Commissioning Editor, Cimran Shah. Colette Magee serves as Production Executive for Tuesday's Child Scotland, while Steph Harris and Jamie Ormerod of Interstellar are the Executive Producers, with Will Brown as Series Producer.
As production kicks off this summer, the anticipation builds for James Acaster: People Person, a show that promises to bring humor, creativity, and community spirit to Channel 4's entertainment lineup.
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